Art Dubai, an international art fair that takes place every March, has pledged 25% of all ticket sales from its latest event to those affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The event ran from March 11-13 in Madinat Jumeirah and welcomed over 100 galleries.
Organisers of Art Dubai told the National that the donation will go through UNICEF, the United Nations organisation that focuses on the safety and wellbeing of children.
A representative said: “Over the years, the Art Dubai Group has helped a number of charitable initiatives and the appeal for funds for the refugee situation unfolding today is something we feel we should support.”
According to the United Nations, more than 2.8 million people have fled Ukraine following Russia’s invasion of the country on February 24.
The Art Newspaper reported that during a VIP preview of the event before it opened, Gallery Artbeat, based in Tbilisi, Georgia, draped the Ukrainian flag over its booth to show solidarity with the country.
Natia Bukia, the co-founder of Gallery Artbeat, also wore the yellow and blue of the Ukrainian flag to the preview event.
Bukia told The Art Newspaper: “For me it was very difficult to come [to Dubai] after being totally frustrated about what is going on in Ukraine and not being able to concentrate on anything else.
“My main fear was exactly that here it would be ‘business as usual’ and how would I be able to handle that. That is why for me it was so important to make some kind of a statement to express what I feel and where I am emotionally but also to remind people what is happening in Ukraine and what has to be on everyone’s mind now.”
Image: Max Kukurudziak on Unsplash
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